uti or not?

[tacy99]

If a u/a has WBC, RBC, bacteria and epithelial cells, but cultures neg. is it NOT a uti??

I have had 10 episodes of severe burning, pressure, frquency, urgency, etc. But only 3 times has it cultured positive for e.coli. The other cultures were negative. I have been on antibiotics almost constantly for 9 months though, so would that effect an accurate culture?

The antibiotics stop the burning etc. in a day or so.

[vm]

If you are on continuous antibiotics it seems like it could affect the culture. Is the person doing the testing aware of the antibiotics?

[twiggy]

Supposedly if you have a bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic that you are on, then it will show through on the culture. (My first uro told me this.) However, uro #2 doesn't like me to submit samples when I am on antibiotics.

[ICNDonna]

I have read that antibiotics can really effect a culture.

Donna

[Babs RN]

Yes,
Being on antibiotics will affect culture results, that is why in the ER they try to have you give a sample first thing so as not to taint the results. Also, while most UA's that are positive for UTI's have the white cells, and red blood cells, the epithelial cells mean it is not an absolutely clean catch and the gold standard is positive for leukocytes, protein and nitrites.

Hugs,
Barb :grouphug: